This is not about the Real Buddy Holly Story that Paul Macarteny produced. This is about the movie in which Gary Busey portrayed Buddy Holly, and in my opnion, did a fairly good job of looking, acting, and in every song but one, even sounding like Buddy. However, also in my opnion, the producers of the movie took way too many theactrical liscences, because Buddy never had a girlfriend named Cindy Lou (that was his niece) there was no mention of the real Peggy Sue, there was no mention of Norm Petty, nor Buddy's brothers and sisters, and although I know that there was some legal problems with Joe B.'s and J.I. Allison's names, still.And those are the liberties taken that I can think of off the top of my head. What does everyone else think of the Buddy Holly Story? Does anyone think that they should have done a better job, or, even with the extreme theactrical liscences, they showed Buddy's life okay?

Unfortunately, I haven't watched The Buddy Holly Story yet, because I haven't felt like I'd be able to take it. I was in bed for almost a week when I watched La Bamba. I think I'm way too emotional.

I'd love to see La Bamba, the only part I've actually seen is when they get in the plane cause someone else showed it for their presentation on Richie Valens. The thing about the Buddy Holly Story is that it doesn't actually show the plane crash or anything. If you don't want the ending ruined, stop reading now.
The movie actually ends at the end of Buddy's set at the Surf Ballroom. The tape freezes, and the words appear that later that night, the Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the pilot, Roger Petersen were killed in a small aircraft crash. There is a voice over on the DVD done by Steve Rash, the director, and Gary Busey, who played Buddy, and at the end, when these words appear, one of them says that this is where the story really ends, not when his plane crashed. I'll watch the movie again, become a little sentimental, and then post the exact words here.

quote:

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Originally posted by buddy_blue:
And those are the liberties taken that I can think of off the top of my head. What does everyone else think of the Buddy Holly Story? Does anyone think that they should have done a better job, or, even with the extreme theactrical liscences, they showed Buddy's life okay?

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Hoo boy, you shouldn't have asked that question, Blue---I'm all loaded for bear... I remember when Columbia Pictures released The Buddy Holly Story in the late 70s, and I was very reluctant to go see it. I wanted to wait until I heard a few critical reviews, specifically from Buddy's family and friends.

Well, as you know, Joe B. and Jerry were silent---which, to my mind, meant that they hated it or were litigating it, or both. Buddy's mother, as I understand it, was offended by many aspects of the movie [I'll tell you in a minute]. I think Larry made a curious comment to the effect that Gary Busey had delivered a good acting job, but he basically agreed with his mother that the movie was a fairy tale. And, to my great surprise, Maria Elena was the one who stepped forward with the most glowing review of all---she declared that it was like seeing Buddy alive again, that the movie had captured the essence of The Great One, and she even managed a few tears for the press. Sheesh.

Well, I guess it goes without saying that all those individuals were initially approached by the movie's producers and offered a stipend for their endorsements. I don't think many self-respecting acquaintances of Buddy Holly would endorse a lie. But Maria Elena, apparently, decided to go for the gold---the only other explanation that I can see for her remarks is that, of all those asked to endorse the movie, she had known Buddy the least amount of time.

These mixed reviews finally prompted me to go see the flick. I fully expected it to contain a lot of "creative license," so I thought I was prepared. But I wasn't.

In the first 10 minutes of the film, I could feel the hair bristling on my neck---the roller rink sequence was total fiction, with Buddy performing "That'll Be the Day" and "Rock Around with Ollie Vee" out of thin air, before he ever landed the Nashville sessions. I tried to calm myself, but that scene was almost immediately followed with depictions of Buddy's family and church condemning his rock & roll music!

Well, anybody who knows anything about the Holley family knows that Buddy was lovingly encouraged to perform from the time he was a toddler---his family and his community were always behind him 100%. For Hollywood to so brazenly cast Buddy's family and church as "heavies" was a gross insult to the Holleys. I don't blame his mom one bit for being outraged.

There followed a bewildering array of inaccurate and just plain fabricated scenes and formula dialogue that had absolutely nothing to do with the reality of Buddy's climb to fame, and an equally bewildering ABSENCE of important figures in Buddy's life. I mean, for godsake, where was Norman Petty (the real heavy)? Seemingly, he was replaced with a likeable little New York producer whose record company accidentally released "That'll Be the Day" on the American pop market. Oops! Ha ha ha, what a happy blunder! I almost puked.

Many other vital persons and incidents were completely omitted from the screenplay---and without all those subtle and not-so-subtle influences, it's impossible to tell Buddy's story with any degree of truth.

There were a hundred other inaccuracies that just went off the credibility scale. For instance, the Crickets were featured performing their own vocals in the studio...didn't happen. There are a couple of scenes focusing on Buddy's complex and labored music-writing ability...but Buddy couldn't write music. The scenes with Buddy drinking and cursing and flipping the finger also offended his mother...it was completely out of character for him.

And, while Buddy was temperamental at times when it came to his career, I seriously doubt that he ever punched out a Nashville producer or attacked Jerry Allison for making racial slurs against Maria Elena. Jerry did what??? Where in the HELL did the screenwriters get this nonsensical gibberish?

Well, I could go on at length about "The Buddy Holly Story" and pick it apart frame-by-frame...that's how many flaws there are in the film, but I don't want to totally spoil it for everyone. The most positive thing I can say is that Gary Busey was nominated for an Academy Award for this movie---which says more about Busey than the film itself.

One critical review (I think it was Rolling Stone) stated the obvious: This movie was pure Hollywood fiction, it had no biographical value, and was essentially an American Rock-n-Roll fable with Buddy Holly's name attached to it. I'll second that.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Charles Austin,

Well this brings me to a quandry. Do i go and see this movie and judge things for myself or not bother, because its a waste of my time. I am really interested in Buddy Hollys life and bio picks in general. Sad that the Hollywood community would depic an icon like this. What right do they have and what reason? just sad.

If you're looking for a good laugh, go see the movie, cause that's about all it's good for. Personally, I think Gary Busey managed to play Buddy very well. It's everything else, and I mean everything else that makes the movie a total joke. On the DVD edition, it's possible to hear a voiceover done by Busey and the director, Steve Rash. THey admit to the theatrical liscences, but argue there's only so much you can put into 112 minutes. Okay, well at the time, Lord of the Rings is far from being made into a movie, but there has got to be other movies made in the same decade that come close to three hours. All the greats are dead, how fitting the song only the good die young. Is it really that hard to remember them fittingly?

Well, as far as "The Buddy Holly Story" goes, it was released in 1978, so you can buy or rent the movie just about anywhere for cheap, I would imagine.

And, as a pretty hardcore Buddy Holly fan, I would say that it's an important movie to see, for a couple of reasons:

1.) Much of the younger generation bases its entire knowledge of Buddy Holly on this movie alone, and the real BH fans should be able to debunk the movie myths point-by-point. This is about "knowing your enemy," okay?

2.) The film itself is 100% bogus, but it's still kind of a charming fairy tale, and it does introduce newbies to a handful of Buddy Holly Top-10 songs. That's about the most positive thing I can say about "The Buddy Holly Story"...

Now, I think everybody should definitely see "The REAL Buddy Holly Story" (Paul McCartney's project), but I'm not qualified to comment on that film just yet. I'm just assuming that Mr. McCartney, as a lifelong admirer of Buddy Holly (not to mention the copyright owner of the bulk of Holly's songs), would strive to produce the most accurate biography possible---or at least 100 times more accurate than the 1978 movie.

Just to be clear here, I would never recommend avoiding a film just because somebody else criticizes it.

I think what the producers were counting on was that a lot of people had forgotten Buddy, even by this point in time. So the producers counted on this to help them convince their audiences that this was Buddy's life, this is how it happened, no ifs, ands or buts about it. It does frustrate me to see Buddy reading music in the movie, because when you think about it, the fact that he couldn't read music just makes his music, and his legend, all that more great. I think I've muddled the facts a bit since hearing the following, but I heard or read somewhere that when Buddy recorded the orchestra sessions, which include True Love Ways, It Doesn't Matter Anymore, Raining In My Heart, and Moondreams, that he conducted the orchestra while recording his own vocals. It doesn't matter that he couldn't read a lick of music, he knew how he wanted it to sound and he conducted from his heart. It was common practice even then to seclude the artist to record vocals, no matter who they were. And even if his vocals were recorded at a later time, the fact still remains he conducted the orchestra, with minimal knowledge of written music, if any knowledge at all.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: buddy_blue,

Having nothimg better to do, I watched the Buddy Holly Story again, but have yet to see the mountains that give an impression that Lubbock is a cozy town nestled in the mountains. There is one scene where Buddy and Cindy Lou (Echo) are driving to the bus station, and for about 2 seconds (I'm not exaggerating) you can see some hidden mountains; is that all that you guys were talking about? Sure, it's a mistake, but there were way bigger and more prominant mistakes that need be corrected than that Lubbock has mountains

I haven't watched The Buddy Holly Story with Gary Busey in at least 10 years; and I wonder, after all the years of Buddy Holly fans pointing out the obvious errors, if somebody at Columbia Pictures went back and tried to edit whatever they could to clean up the film.

I remember waiting to hear the reviews of the movie when it first came out in 1978, and the critics were kind to it while the Buddy Holly fans were moaning loudly. Finally, I went to see it early one afternoon in a mostly vacant theatre.

My first impressions of the film are posted elsewhere on this board, I believe---my first impression was anger and disgust at the formulaic Hollywood plot from the opening scene onward. But the first error that made me laugh out loud was a shot overlooking the town they called "Lubbock" in this movie---the shot seems to be from on-high, maybe from a boom platform, looking down a 1950s small-town main street... And there, framing the shot, were mountains in the immediate background.

Well, I really did laugh out loud when I saw that, but I don't think anyone else in the theatre got the joke. Seeing a mountain range, or a mountain, or even a good-sized hill in or near the real Lubbock is impossible... The place is flat as a pancake with wide-open sky for a hundred miles in any direction.

I guess you would actually need to visit Lubbock, and allow it to make its impression on you, for the incongruity to really slap you in the face. I mean, placing Lubbock in a mountain setting is about as ridiculous as placing it in the Antarctic.

So, I don't know if you are seeing the original film as it was released in 1978, or if certain little "problem" scenes have been edited out. You once mentioned that they went back and overdubbed narration by Gary Busey in the more recent release of the movie---so they may have "tweaked" it in other ways, as well.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Charles Austin,

I have no recollection of that scene, so you're probably right that someone at Colombia films did edit the movie a little bit. The commentary overdub was done by Gary Busey and Steve Rash, the director. While they do admit to some mistakes, like the name of Buddy's girlfriend, the way that the band named themselves the Crickets, and Jesse's racial slur, they defend these "theactrical licenses" by saying there's only so much you can put in 112 minutes. Well, Paul MacCarteny's version, while in a different format if you will, runs only 86 minutes and he sure covered a lot more truth.

I wonder too what other scenes they edited. I know in the voiceover that Steve Rash does point out a editing error, but be it an editing mistake in the theatre version or the recent version, I don't know, but it is apparant in the more recent version that when Buddy, Maria Elena and Mr. Turner are in Buddy's apartement, there is a coffee urn just barely visible in the background on the counter, and then in the next scene it's on the table without anyone moving it there, and then in the next scene, Buddy moves it back to the counter! Also they supposedly edited some scenes on the bus (tour of 1957, not 1959.) I would have rather seen those scenes then the whole church deal. And with all the hubbub with Jesse's racist remark, why not edit that out too? Well, I guess when it comes down to it, they ought to edit out the whole film, so I guess that they just did what they could. lol

Oh, i have been waiting for soemone to ask this question. This flim infuriated me. Actually, i saw La Bamba before i saw this film, so i was ready to bawl when it came time for that infamous plane scene that everyone dreads. However, while I did shed tears, it was not near as much of an emotional expirence as it was in La Bamba. The reason- this film is fiction.In La Bamba the producers stuck very close to what actually occured, bending facts here or there for theactrical liscence. However, in The Buddy Holly Story,there were pieces of information that were completly ficticious, not to metion Buseys horrible attempt at singing the correct lyrics to any of the songs preformed. And then they didint even show the plane!Not to act as if I particularly like that scene, i just feel it impossible and extreamly unnerving that the producers could create this seemmingly wonderful piece of fiction, and then wrap up the truth of this horrible tragidy in a few short sentences. Being a realitvly new Buddy fan when i first saw it, i believed everything that occured in the film to be the truth, until I read an interview with Waylonn Jennings who rather defencivly clarified things for me. He had every right to be angry. This film creates perceptions about Buddy Holly that arent true, and in doing so can damage how members of the auidience feel about him, should they not look into the truth. However, I am now more than educated on the real occurences of my idols life, and feel that we owe Buddy better than a film that has nothing to do with him save for the title.

Have you ever seen the Real Buddy Holly Story? That one, done by Paul McCarteny, is about half an hour shorter than the one with Busey, but there's a heck of a lot more truth in there.
Is the interview that you read with Waylon Jennings on the net? If so, where? And if not, where?
I have not seen the whole La Bamba movie except the plane scene (someone else showed it for their presentation-it's a long, well, more like complicated story as how I got into Buddy-the story is here somewhere on these boards) though I don't really remember it now, that was more than 2 years ago. I am okay with the fact that the producers didn't do a plane scene in the Buddy Holly Story, and the reason is actually quite logical and does actually play to reality. On that night, February 3, 1959, the last time many people would have seen the trio of singers after the show was done and autographs were signed is only a handful of people, namely Mr. Dwyer, Tommy Allsup, and a couple others. Because Tommy Allsup is non-existent in the movie, I think that the way that they have it is a good way. It's like we, those who still bother to watch the movie even though we know how horribly wrong it is, are part of the audience that fateful night. And the last we see of Buddy is a good memory, him with his Strat, rocking out like he was born to do. The silence when the last message is seen is the silence of February 3, as I see it, representing the silence that people felt upon hearing the news, and the silence that Buddy (theroretically) left. (keeping in mind that songs were released after his death.) So yeah, the ending might just be one thing that I'm okay with in the movie. That and the fact that the movie of factless torture is over.

Unfortunatly, not for lack of trying, i have not seen the Real Buddy Holly Story, I simply cant find it.Plus i have no idea where i found that interveiw, i was just surfing the net for Buddy.But it was Waylon Jennings, and it was on the net...somewhere.I agree with you that the plane scene in The Buddy Holly scene wouldnt have been plausable because so many key people were left out of the film entirely.I was merely stating that that scene as well as the scenes of the loved ones reactions which intergraded into La Bamba are great tear jerkers and really puts the tragidy into perspective.However, i agree with you that the fading silence at the end of the film was a great way to end it, as most people are left speechless after watching it, save for the comments of what a needless waste his death was. You know, come to think of it, I believe that Waylon Jennings interveiw was on the global gazzette website, just go to google and click on a pic of the demolished plane, and it will usually take you there.I hope.If not, Im sorry, I was there while I was supposed to be working on English, so i didnt really pay attention as to wgere it was.

I've probably seen the interview then, because I have seen all those articles that are on the Globe Gazette website, there's about a dozen or so. I hate when I do that, I'll find a really good website and then forget to bookmark it, so that I can't find it later.
As to finding the Real Buddy Holly Story, I believe it is only available through Amazon.com or other internet site, though good news: it was recently re-released as a DVD in October so contrary to the VHS, which seemed to be available on E-Bay because it had been released in like 1979 or something and thus no longer being sold in your friendly neighbour Wal-Mart, the DVD is possible to find on most internet delivery movie sites. (if that makes sense.) I got my copy for Christmas, so I'm not really sure where they found it, but I have to say, it is amazingly excellent. Both the clips of Buddy and the interviews.

That relly sucks then, because my parents wont let me buy of the internet. Nearly everything I own about Buddy is from Wall-Mart, so if it's not sold there, they only way Im ever going to get to see it if it happens to be on t.v one night. I dug for nearly an hour in one of those DVD bins at Wall-Mart to find the Busey Buddy Holly Story, so you can imagine my anger when i actually saw it. He is a good actor though. But come my birthday it'll all be ok, as my mom just ordered me this film and cd collection we saw in an infomercial with plenty of Buddy hits and footage. I nearly died when i saw Buddy on t.v.......then i started to cry because it was 200 dollars and at first i wasnt allowed to have it. They came around though....my moms a bid Buddy fan too

Good luck seeing it on T.V., I would think that your best bet would be around this time, as it's near the time of his death and everything. Although still, that's a pretty slim bet that it would be on T.V. I've seen lots of stuff on Elvis near his birthday and death, though of course this is Elvis we're talking about. God forbid that he fade into oblivion, though of course it's all right to let Buddy Holly fade into oblivion. I really don't get the way people's minds work. Elvis, sure, he was a good singer and he is good to listen to. A heck of a lot worse to watch. (I have a total rant in the topic of who's better, Elvis or Buddy, so I won't recap it all here.) There's the arguement that there's so much less footage of Buddy then Elvis, okay, maybe they have a bit of a valid point, but hello, eighty-six minutes worth is avaiable courtesy of Paul McCarteny. Don't give up hope though, I know that the Buddy Holly Story with Busey was aired in my grade eight year (again, pure luck), and if all else fails, just beg your parents to take you to Lubbock. It's sure to be in a Wal-Mart there.
I'm still working on my parents to take me to Texas, me and friends are going to New York after graduation, and en route I'm going to make them stop in Iowa.

I so completly agree with you on the Elvis thing. I mean, the man didnt even write his own music!!! I too, have a rant on this that I wont recap here, someome really needs to start a forum on this...I know that the chances are thin of The Real Buddy Holly Story being aired on t.v, but hey, I check every night for Buddy-related television, and once in a blue moon there will be somthing on. But if not, I have full intentions of going to Lubbock the second i graduate, as well as Iowa and Pacoima for Ritchie. Im gonna clean out the Buddy Holly museum of all their merchendise(lol) as well as pay my respects to Buddy and leave my guitar pick at his grave.However Im going to drive, as I now have an acute fear of flying since Iv'e done more reasearch on what actually happened. Actually, I think I have a bigger fear of the pilots being idiots(no direspect intended) than the actual flying.

Ok, its time to say something that needs to be said. If none of us were fans of Buddys, and didnt realize that the movie is a bunch of crap, would we really think it was that bad? Its actually a great fictional film, and if it wasnt so unfortunatly done as a biopic, it would have been a great story.I(as everyone else) have conveyed my anger towards the fact that this film falsley potrays Buddy Holly and his life, however you gotta take it for what it is. Its quite obvious from the beginning that the producers had no intention of sticking to the truth, so instead of sitting there fuming, consider it as you would any other movie youd watch. Its a great story with good actors and awesome music. You watch it, you get exited,and then decide its time to get back to reality and put in The Real Buddy Holly Story.

And no, Im not contradicting myself, because im still extreamly pissed about the whole thing, but truth be told, if I wasnt such a hard core and into-it Buddy Holly fan, Id really like this movie.

The things that irked me about La Bamba were minor compared to the crap in The Buddy Holly Story... In La Bamba, I thought Lou Diamond Phillips was great, because he's really a damned good actor (compared to Gary Busey). Phillips had a lot of problems making me believe his lip-synch and air-guitar. But I blame those problems on production and editing, not on Phillips especially. That's the only entertainment edge Gary Busey had over Lou Diamond Phillips---Busey actually tried to sing and play the guitar.

But one of the last scenes in La Bamba really pissed me off---it's at the Mason City airport, of course, where they depict Buddy as a kind of brash showman, guffawing and passing around a flask of liquor in the plane before take-off. It just wasn't Buddy Holly...But, then, it wasn't his movie, either.

I wonder what it would have been like to see Busey behind the drums as J.I. Allison and not as the front man at all, because you're right. When the stupid mistakes are forgotten, it's not that bad. Busey looks somewhat like Buddy, and I can't imagine him looking like Jerry. Yes, the music is good and I guess the storyline is fine for fiction, but it still ticks me off the people who will walk away from that movie and not realize Buddy Holly was a real person because it's so obvious that movie is all Hollywood. So they think Buddy was all Hollywood too.

In reference to La Bamba, I agree that there were things that pissed me off about that movie too. Next to Buddy, Ritchie Valens is my favourite artist, and, although its not near as bad as in The Buddy Holly Story, parts of the movie did falsley protray him. I toolove Lou Diamond Phillips in that movie, not only because he did a far better job of looking the part than Busey, but as you said he is a very good actor. Actually the only thing I prefer Busey for is the singing, because, yes, in La Bamaba it does look fake, however I do believe Phillips actually did play the guitar.In regards to that plane scene, well that was probably the most annoying part of the film.You cant talk about Ritchie Valens without mentioning Buddy Holly, so I think they should have at least givin the man his proper personality. As for the audience walking away and feeling that Buddy Holly was nothing but Hollywood, I agree with that and yet I dont. True, the movie is nothing but Hollywood, and in saying that, yes it feels like your watching someone elses life instead of Buddys, however, are you going to race out to catch the next biopic flick about someone you've never heard of?I believe that, in order to have any intrest in seeing the film, everyone whos seen it must have had some familiarity with Buddy Holly and his music.Not to say that they were able to pick out every detailed mistake though, because chances are they werent as into it as we are.So, yes, Im sure many left the theater believeing most of what they saw, however Im also confident that everyone also knew that Buddy was a real person, and that absolutly everyone was able to pick out a few of the mistakes, seeing as they were so numerous,and that the word scrambling alone should cause you to queation the credibility of the rest of the film.

I guess I'm going to raise the hairs on the back of some necks, but I like The Buddy Holly Story.

Did I find it to be acurate? No less accurate than the movie about Lou Gehrig, or the one about boxer Jim Braddock, and I think we all agree that John Wayne didn't win World War II single-handedly.

I heard about the movie many months prior to its release, first from a friend who had a bit part in it (and was ultimately left on the cutting room floor).

From another friend I found out the guy playing Buddy was this musician from the San Fernando Valley who used to hang out at Beechler Music - where I also hung out.

Charlie Martin Smith you would occasionally see around campus at CSUN. So there was a lot of buzz going around about the Holly film.

In spite of the Hollywood version of Buddy's life, I was pleasantly surprised by Gary Busey's powerful performance. He displayed the sheer energy of Buddy's music. I was blown away by the roller rink scene.

Sure I'd have enjoyed the real story more, but that's because I was then and still am a huge fan of Buddy and his music. But the Buddy Holly Story wasn't made for the die-hard fan alone.

The film makers set out to create for the general public an unforgetable American hero in Buddy Holly. I think they succeeded in that end.

quote:

Originally posted by Balcony Buddy:

Charlie Martin Smith you would occasionally see around campus at CSUN.
I was pleasantly surprised by Gary Busey's powerful performance. He displayed the sheer energy of Buddy's music.

Charles Martin Smith I think does a great job of being Joe B., in my opinion certainly better than Don Stroud as Jerry Allison. Although I know all the actors were in their late twenties or older at the time, Don Stroud looks too old and nothing like JI.
Gary Busey, if we remember that it wasn't him that wrote the script, he just had to say it in order to get paid, does a great job of being Buddy.
When I first saw the Buddy Holly Story, I was very much impressed. I was still learning about Buddy then. Now, I can pick out the mistakes in a ten mile radius. But I still pop in the DVD now and then, as it's the longest footage that has yet to surface (partially ) about Buddy.

I've seen the "Buddy Holly Story" very often, the musical "Buddy", too.
The "Buddy Holly Story" should be renamed "The Gary Busey Story". He's an excellent actor and singer, in the film he lives Buddy, a great performance.
We all know that the story does not show the real life of Buddy Holly in many parts, the siblings are not mentioned, Norman and Vi Petty are forgotten, as well, but the film lives from the music.
The musical shows Norman and Vi Petty, that's more than the film.
The real fact can be seen in the new DVD "The music of Buddy Holly & The Crickets".
When you have seen it, you must agree, that the story of Buddy Holly has never been told more exactly with some surprising new statements of the interviewed persons.

Cheers from the other side of the planet from

Buddy's German buddy

HANS

P.S.: The lyrics of the rarest Waylon Jennings song "The Stage" are on my website now thanks to buddy_blue from Canada.

quote:

Originally posted by crazy_for_buddy:
I so completly agree with you on the Elvis thing. I mean, the man didnt even write his own music!!! I too, have a rant on this that I wont recap here, someome really needs to start a forum on this...I know that the chances are thin of The Real Buddy Holly Story being aired on t.v, but hey, I check every night for Buddy-related television, and once in a blue moon there will be somthing on. But if not, I have full intentions of going to Lubbock the second i graduate, as well as Iowa and Pacoima for Ritchie. Im gonna clean out the Buddy Holly museum of all their merchendise(lol) as well as pay my respects to Buddy and leave my guitar pick at his grave.However Im going to drive, as I now have an acute fear of flying since Iv'e done more reasearch on what actually happened. Actually, I think I have a bigger fear of the pilots being idiots(no direspect intended) than the actual flying.

Actually, if you take a major airline down there the planes are checked and re-checked, there is no ifs ands and buts---plus the Flight Attendants are trained to handle situations. How do I know this? Because I fly daily to multiple places, I am one of those trained Flight Attendants and to be honest, the planes are on "Auto-pilot" the whole time except landing. There would be a problem during take-off or landing (and since their plane was taking off, 5 mins is usually when you're still ascending thats when the problem occured). You're more likely to die in a car accident than a plane crash but I do understand that some people are afraid---I guess I'm "livin on the edge" so to speak.

As for the two movies referenced, I saw "The Buddy Holly Story" at the end when I was a kid on FOX one Sunday and since I didn't understand it, wasn't interested. But I think Gary Busey did a great job (I don't really think he looked like Buddy) and from what I understand, they had to rename the band mates because The Crickets had sold their imaging rights to another movie (which was never made) but they sound more like The HICKets---what is up with the name "Ray Bob"? Correct me if I'm wrong...but wasn't Buddy's high school girlfriend's name "Echo"? La bamba was something we watched in school in Spanish class and I do like Ritchie Valens as well but the movie made me think that Buddy was a jerk by the way he was portrayed in the end "The sky belongs to the stars" is not something I believe he said (Being a Christian, he ought to know that the sky belongs to the LORD). The actor also made him seem dry and lacking of a personality so I think that sucked big time on their part...I had to look at Buddy himself and realized he rocked---he still rocks! He rocks my socks right off my feet! But Hollywood didn't act like Buddy Holly would!

Being brought up all the way in Singapore doesnt stop one from being exposed to great music as I have been throughout my life...My exposuere to Buddy's music is thanks to my mother...so when The Buddy Holly Story came out I was thrilled.....right up to the time I actually made a trip to Lubbock during the then named Buddy Holly Music Festival and got a copy of the Real Buddy Holly Story.....You begin to see that his life was somehow not in his control and that he was pressured to go on that fateful tour...RE the interview with Phil Everley. Still Gary Busey is the only good thing to come out of that movie....

I've appreciated reading everyone's opinions of the two movies, I've seen neither one but now I know which one not to bother seeing at all.

For those who are looking for the version of "The Real Buddy Holly Story" on DVD or VHS jsust visit the Buddy Holly Center giftshop in Lubbock or shop with them online! They also carry the A & E Biography about Buddy on VHS titled "Rave On". Buy from the center and help support the museum's mission, to preserve the legend!

http://www.buddyhollycenter.org
Go to giftshop and then to collectibles!

quote:

Originally posted by gerg:
I've appreciated reading everyone's opinions of the two movies, I've seen neither one but now I know which one not to bother seeing at all.

Yes the Buddy Holly Story is how Hollywood wanted him to be, not how he was at all, but it is all right, just as long as you know your fact from fiction. Gary Busey is a pretty good Buddy, and does draw some half decent moments of truth ("I have this sound in my head.") Everytime I watch I remind myself that he didn't have a choice, he had to say what the scripts read (though he did do a fair amount of ad-libbing). Probably the worst thing I've heard about Gary Busey in relation to Buddy Holly is that he didn't take very good care of his Holly acoustic, bought at an auction.
And it is fun to watch the BHS first, and then watch the RBHS cause there are some funny coincidences. (Think about the scene in the BHS when the boys are sitting in the car and Jesse-oh that bugs me about their names and how they signed them away-gets into an arguement with Buddy about how much the boys are touring. Buddy wants all of it, Jesse wants a breather. But then the real Jerry Allison talks about it in the RBHS....and the roles were reversed just a tad.)

i'd agree on this one with Buddy Blue - the movie IS worth seeing. as far as factual documentaries go, the Real Buddy Holly story is the one to see. but the movie has some poignant and touching moments, and Busey did do an admirable job, considering whose shoes he had to fill....

The Buddy Holly Story is full of hokey Hollywood crapola, but it IS the movie that turned me on to Buddy Holly and his music. I was born in '59 and didn't have a clue who Buddy Holly was until the movie came out. With that said, Busey's performance was nominated for an Oscar and I think it was Oscar worthy. He played guitar and really studied up on Buddy. Of course, he should have been good. Busey was supposed to play Jerry Allison in a movie that J.I. had written a screenplay about the 1957 tour down south. Unfortunately, some of the scenes from the Allison screenplay ended up in the Buddy Holly Story. Busey, of course, had the Allison script, so....